Finding irony in Sherman housing vote

Published 9:08 pm, Tuesday, July 8, 2014

The ancient Greek playwright Sophocles would have appreciated the irony in Sherman's vote on senior citizen/affordable housing. It was defeated by nearly two to one.

What sank it? The fear of "outsiders" coming to Sherman. Yet, the majority to these voters are the very ones who have elected as first selectman a Texan. Go figure.

Patricia Endress

Sherman

Ed, Ann Wicks will be missed

by community

There are people who enrich the communities they live in by their actions. Their departure is keenly felt by those who knew and appreciated them

Ed and Ann Wicks brought immeasurable joy and enhanced the lives of their many friends and the organizations they supported. The Danbury Library, the Lions Club and the Danbury Music Centre have been significantly impacted by their talents and support. Generous in spirit and use of their time to help others, this loving couple touched people from all walks of life.

Ann worked at the Danbury Library for 24 years, and sang with the Afternoon Musical Society.

Choosing family before a career, the promise of her beautiful voice being heard on concert stages was not her life's path. Love of music was as integral to their lives -- sustenance to their lives and shared with the community at large.

Ed repaired many a stringed instrument. There was no charge where money was a questionable issue. His patient manner and inquisitive mind attracted people of all ages.

Aging often routes our lives to new directions. Sixty-two years of living in Danbury is now a historical reality. South Carolina is their new abode. Family and friends will always be linked, but there is no doubt that the Wicks' impact is a gift that continues to give.

With respect, love and admiration to the Wicks family.

June S. April

Redding

Evil wins when good people

do nothing

Since Connecticut's new guns laws have been in effect, 72 felons, 54 mentally ill people and 15 people with restraining orders have been denied gun purchases. That's 141 dangerous people who didn't get a gun! How many lives were saved by this common sense law? Maybe yours, or that of a loved one.

A great majority of Americans -- Republicans, Democrats, gun owners and non-owners -- approve of universal background checks. Yet the gun manufacturers and the extremists have vowed to overturn Connecticut's laws and block similar laws in other states.

They oppose such common sense laws such as taking guns away from CONVICTED domestic abusers and other felons; they oppose keeping guns away from suspected terrorists.

The only way to get and keep gun safety laws is to elect and support legislators who will fight for them.

That's why I urge you to go to Everytown.org and pledge to support people who will vote for common sense gun safety laws. This group DOES NOT want to take guns away from responsible, law-abiding citizens -- only to keep them from dangerous people.

Everytown is the merger of Moms Demand Action for Common Sense Gun Laws and Mayors Against Illegal Guns. They have chapters in all 50 states and are modeled after Mothers Against Drunk Driving. (Thanks to MADD, there are a lot fewer deaths from drunk driving than there were 20 or 30 years ago.)

There have been 74 school shootings in the year and a half since Newtown! Are you sick of hearing about each new gun massacre? Does your heart break for the families of the victims? Do you pray this will not happen to you or someone you love? Please channel this anger and sadness into action. Take the pledge -- there is strength in numbers.

Gun murders are evil -- and the only way for evil to triumph is that good people do nothing!